British Officer, Zulu War, Victoria Cross Awardee. Lt. Melvill was serving as adjutant of the 1st Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot (2nd Warwickshire Regiment / South Wales Borderers) during the Zulu War of 1879 in South Africa. During the battle of Isandhlwana, January 22, 1879, when the British force was about to be overrun, Lt. Melvill was charged by the battalion commander with carrying the Queen's Colour of the battalion to safety. He cut his way out of the surrounding Zulus and reached the Buffalo River. However, in his exhaustion and encumbered with the heavy colour, Melvill could not reach the other side. He was helped by Lt. N.J.A. Coghill, but the colour was lost in the river (it was later recovered). Both men were surrounded on the far side of the river and killed by the Zulus, after having exhausted their ammunition. Their bodies were later discovered side-by-side, and they were buried together where they fell. Both received the first two posthumous awards of the Victoria Cross on January 15, 1907.
British Officer, Zulu War, Victoria Cross Awardee. Lt. Melvill was serving as adjutant of the 1st Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot (2nd Warwickshire Regiment / South Wales Borderers) during the Zulu War of 1879 in South Africa. During the battle of Isandhlwana, January 22, 1879, when the British force was about to be overrun, Lt. Melvill was charged by the battalion commander with carrying the Queen's Colour of the battalion to safety. He cut his way out of the surrounding Zulus and reached the Buffalo River. However, in his exhaustion and encumbered with the heavy colour, Melvill could not reach the other side. He was helped by Lt. N.J.A. Coghill, but the colour was lost in the river (it was later recovered). Both men were surrounded on the far side of the river and killed by the Zulus, after having exhausted their ammunition. Their bodies were later discovered side-by-side, and they were buried together where they fell. Both received the first two posthumous awards of the Victoria Cross on January 15, 1907.
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